LONE STAR NATION
How a Ragged Army of Volunteers Won the Battle for Texas Independence - and Changed America

Professor, biographer, and longtime Texas resident H.W. Brands captures the colorful, brutal story of Texas's evolution from colonization to statehood, with a brash and daring cast of characters taking center stage. Brands's attention to detail recreates the mood and tone of the rough-and-tumble territory. In spite of a major abridgment, Chuck Montgomery seems to stumble on the detail, somewhat bogging down the lively history. For die-hard history buffs, his lackluster reading should not deter giving this Texas-sized book a listen, but those who count on a strong and engaging reading should steer clear. H.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]